19. Luxtyn

19

LUXTYN

I was ready to go to battle with Matteo over this dinner with Angelo. He's basically locked me up in this penthouse to do nothing, and I can't take it anymore. If I can help figure out where my mom is, then I'll do it. Plus, a part of me wants to get to know Angelo, Elena, and Giuliana. I have a half sister I knew nothing about. An entire family I knew nothing about. It makes me wonder what exactly my mom was thinking when she kept me away from them.

I brought a limited amount of clothes to NYC, so I put on the nicest outfit I packed: a pair of high-waisted skinny jeans tucked into the black combat boots I wore on the plane ride here, paired with a simple white T-shirt that ends just above the waistline of my pants. Topping it off, I add my cropped black leather jacket. The sun has set, so I'm sure the cool spring weather will comb the air outside now.

Checking my reflection in the mirror, I take my hair out of its messy bun and run my fingers through it, pulling the kinks out. I'm fortunate enough that after a few tosses of my hair, its normally straight appearance has more volume and some waves to it after being up in a bun all day. After applying a touch of makeup—mascara, blush, and a cherry-tinted lip balm—I decide I'm ready to go.

I'm prepared to meet Enzo out in the living room to take me to Angelo's, but am surprised to find Matteo standing there with his face buried in his phone. He hasn't acknowledged my presence yet, so I take a moment to observe him.

He changed. He's now wearing a black button-up with the sleeves rolled up, exposing his inked forearms. The fitted shirt stretches around his tight muscles, showcasing his impressive arms. Arms I've pictured wrapped around me since our kiss a few days ago.

"Did you let Angelo know I'll be there for dinner?" I ask.

Matteo glances up from his phone and slowly rakes his eyes over me. Something flickers through them as he brings them up to meet mine. "I did," he answers. "He's expecting us soon."

I raise a brow. "Us?"

He tucks his phone in his pocket, his gaze remaining only on mine. "Enzo's been watching over you enough." He walks up and stops before me, causing me to angle my head back to keep eye contact with him. "I think it's time you and I start acting like husband and wife."

His words give me whiplash. "But I'm nothing but a business transaction , remember?" I say, throwing his words back at him. Words that hurt me more than I care to admit. I thought I could withstand being stuck in a marriage with a man I mean nothing to, but I'm not so sure now. Especially when that man is Matteo. An overbearing, insanely attractive, making me question everything that I know kind of man.

He stares into my eyes, and the sincerity behind them is clear. "I think you and I both know those were just words, Little Lux." He glances down at my lips, and I dart my tongue out to moisten them. "There's something about you. Something that draws me to you. Something that doesn't allow me to get you out of my head."

His eyes follow the path of my tongue, excitement and need radiating through them as he leans over and wraps his hand around the back of my head. My heart rate picks up and the rest happens in slow motion.

Matteo's lips brush over mine, and the taste of peppermint lingers as my body immediately reacts and I suck them into my mouth. A groan escapes him as I lightly tug his lips with my teeth, which has me wanting more of that feral sound.

I part my lips, eager to see if he'll continue and take from me what I'm willing to give him or pull away and leave me like he did last time.

His tongue slips into my mouth, and I let out a whimper at the heat that consumes me, our kiss instantly becoming more intense. Placing a rough hand on my waist, Matteo pivots us and pushes me up against the wall. It wasn't soft, but it was the way I needed it to be. I want to forget about the crap I have going on in my life and marinate in the arms of Matteo. When did this happen?

Locking his hands around my wrists, he brings them up above my head, trapping me against the wall as he spreads my legs with his knee. He leans into me, our kiss becoming more heated, like he needs this with every breath. Just like I do.

I arch my back off the wall to get closer to him when the clearing of someone's throat interrupts us. Matteo hesitantly pulls his lips off mine but doesn't look toward the sound. His nearly black lust-filled eyes stare down into mine as my hands remain pinned above my head.

A woman's voice breaks through our haze. "So this is what's kept you in the city this past week?"

My eyes widen as I take in the smooth, unfamiliar voice. She sounds young. I try to wiggle myself free from Matteo's hands, but he doesn't let me go. He hasn't moved. He continues to stare into my eyes as if the intruder hasn't made herself known.

"Matteo. . ." I whisper while I try to break free once more.

He closes his eyes as if he's in pain and mutters, "This isn't finished," before opening them and releasing his grip on my wrists.

The clink of heels on the marble floor sounds as the newcomer draws near us. I move to the side to glance around Matteo's hulking frame, and make eye contact with a stunning brunette, with her voluminous hair in perfect waves cascading over her shoulders. She's wearing a long-sleeved emerald-green dress that hugs her tall, slender body and ends right above her knee.

I snap my gaze back to Matteo's with wide eyes, which he takes in immediately. Spinning on his heel, he brings his attention to the gorgeous woman who could make supermodels feel inferior. I can't help but wonder who she is to Matteo. This self-doubt in me isn't a feeling I've ever felt before, and it's not one I want to get used to.

"Isabella, I had no idea you were coming here," Matteo says calmly.

She takes his extended hands I hadn't realized he'd given her and leans in to kiss both his cheeks. "Well, I haven't seen you all week, so I came to take you out to dinner," she says before bringing her gaze to mine. "But it seems you already have plans?" she asks, bouncing her gaze back to his.

" You were going to take me out to dinner?" Matteo asks, ignoring her question.

She gives him a soft, bubbly laugh. "Okay, fine. You were going to pay, but I was going to offer my amazing company. You've been texting every night letting me know you're not going to be home, so I decided to track you down myself. "

Home.

They share a home?

Oh my gosh.

I didn't even think about the fact that Matteo could have a girlfriend. Why the hell didn't I think about that? Oh right, because there wasn't any time to think anything through before getting married. I internally cringe as I realize his girlfriend walked in on us full on face-fucking each other against a wall. My face heats with anger knowing that he put us in this situation. I refuse to be married to a cheater.

"I told you, I've been busy with some things," he says, not offering her many details.

"Oh, I see that," she sasses, raising her brow at him before turning to me with a warm smile. Extending her hand, she introduces herself to me with enthusiasm. "Hi, I'm Izzy."

I take her hand and give it a shake, returning the greeting. "Hi, I'm Lux." My nickname rolls off my tongue, which is surprising. It's not how I usually introduce myself to someone, especially the girlfriend of a guy I was just making out with. But her friendly demeanor has apparently rubbed off on me a bit.

"Oooh, Lux," she says, wiggling her brows at me. "Now that's a cool name. Very edgy. Is it short for something?"

"Luxtyn," I state, still unsure how I should act in this situation.

"Isabella," Matteo interrupts.

Izzy leans into me and gestures toward Matteo with her head. "This one has always called me by my full name. I tried getting him on board with Izzy, but he just won't do it. Tell me, does he call you Lux, or is it always Luxtyn ?"

"He calls me Luxtyn." I pause as I consider that answer before adding, "Well, except for when he calls me Little Lux."

I have no idea why I told her that .

Izzy raises an impressed and perfectly arched brow at me. "Little Lux." She glances back at Matteo and says, "Nicknames, huh? What a cute little kink."

Matteo lets out a sigh. "Now that you've met my little sister, I think it's time for us to get going." He wraps a hand around my forearm and pulls me away.

Relief washes over me as I take in that information.

His sister.

Of course.

How stupid of me.

"Enzo's in his room. I'm sure he'll take you out to dinner, Isabella," Matteo yells back to her as he continues pulling me toward the elevator.

"Mm-hm, you two have fun now," she singsongs before her shoes click across the marble again and she calls out, "Oh, Vincenzo."

Matteo's fingers slide down my arm and enclose around my hand. He's being so affectionate, and I'm not sure what to take from it. It's messing with me, and I need answers.

Tugging on his hand, I bring him to a stop. "What are we doing?"

"I thought we were going to dinner at your father's house."

Father's house. That sounds so strange to hear.

Rolling my eyes, I say, "You know what I mean."

"I already told you. You're my wife. Going to dinner at your father's house seems like a husband-and-wife thing to do, don't you think?"

"You really want to start acting like husband and wife now?"

"Don't you think it would make it a bit more tolerable since we're going to be stuck together for the rest of our lives?"

I cock an eyebrow. "How romantic," I mutter before stepping around him so I can continue making my way toward the elevator, but before I'm able to, Matteo grabs a hold of my forearm, stopping me. I can feel his gaze on me, but I refuse to look at him.

"Is it romance you're after?" he teases.

My eyes remain locked on the elevator door as I say, "The only thing I'm after when it comes to you is finding my mom."

He chuckles softly. "That's not what your body was saying just a few moments ago."

I snap my head in his direction, narrowing my gaze on him. "Oh, good for you. You can play tonsil hockey like a champ."

He lets out a full laugh this time, and the sound is deep, vibrating through my bones. "Tonsil hockey, huh? Can't say that's been used to describe that sort of skill set of mine before."

The thought of him playing tonsil hockey with other women doesn't settle well with me, but I push that vicious green lady down as deep as I can. She's never been a part of my life before, yet she's already shown up twice tonight.

Ignoring his comment, I say, "We should probably get going. We're already running behind." I pull my arm from his grasp and make my way to the elevator with him on my heels.

"Aren't you forgetting something, dear wife?" Matteo calls out from behind me, but I ignore him as I press the down button and watch the doors open.

We step onto the car, and I feel Matteo's gaze on me. "What did I forget, Matteo?" I ask, keeping my focus on my reflection in the shiny metal door as it closes. I have nothing here, so I'm not sure what there is that I could've possibly forgotten. This is just another one of his stupid games, like playing into the whole being husband-and-wife thing.

I watch his reflection as he reaches into the pocket of his slacks and pulls something out. Turning to him, he holds the object up between his fingers, and I see it's a wedding band. My wedding band. The last time I saw it was the morning he forced me to marry him. I took it off and left it on my nightstand and haven't thought about it since. When the hell did he get that?

"I know you haven't been wearing it."

"Well, there wasn't really anywhere to wear it."

"This is a symbol of our marriage. It represents the binding of our relationship. I would like for you to wear it at all times."

I almost roll my eyes at the statement, but then I notice the shiny metal band he has wrapped around his ring finger. Does he wear his at all times?

"I keep mine on, so keep yours on. . . please."

I think that's the first time I've heard him say please . The shock from it, along with his want for us to keep something so symbolic on at all times has me mute as he takes my hand and slides the ring on, like he did on our wedding day.

I drag my attention back to the elevator door when it dings. Matteo takes my hand into his as we walk off and guides me to the G-Wagon that's sitting there idling for us. Now, instead of thinking about the dinner, the only thing on my mind is the confusion at Matteo and his sudden change of heart when it comes to our marriage . . . and what that means for us.